Chemotherapy is generally not used to cure brain tumors but in some rare cases it is used for high-grade primary brain tumors when the tumor reverts. Even in such cases, chemotherapy is unable to cure a brain tumor completely. It could only shrink the tumor or slow down its growth so that the symptoms are reduced. In short chemotherapy does not cure brain tumors completely.

The drugs used to cure primary brain tumors include, procarbazine, lomustine, temozolomide and vincristine. Some drugs are given as capsules or tablets, whereas some are injected into the patient’s vein. Procarbazine, lomustine and vincristine are sometimes combined together for the treatment. This combination is known as PCV.

Another method of chemotherapy is through implant. In this method the chemotherapy drug is placed into the area of tumor at the time of surgery. The implants are small discs or gel wafers which contain carmustine, a chemotherapy drug. The drug is slowly released as the gel dissolves.

The type of drug prescribed to a patient depends on the stage and type of brain tumor the patient is suffering from. To cure brain tumor, chemotherapy is usually given as an outpatient treatment. It is at times given with surgery or after the surgery and also after radiation therapy, when the patient is just diagnosed with brain tumor.

Chemotherapy Brain Tumors Side Effects

Chemotherapy may cause some unpleasant side effects in brain tumor patients. In some cases, there have been no desirable results but the patients has to bear the side effects. The benefits of chemotherapy and its side effects also depend upon the patient’s health. The healthier the person, the less side effects he/she might experience and also reap the benefits from the treatment.

The side effects of chemotherapy to cure brain tumors include:

• Less resistance to infection: As the number of white blood cells is destroyed in the process of killing the cancer cells, the patient becomes more prone to infection. Patients also tend to get tired easily. Patient’s blood is tested regularly during chemotherapy and certain antibiotics are prescribed to treat the infections, if any.

• Anemia: If the red blood cell count in the blood reduces, you become lethargic and very tired. Patients also become breathless at times. If patients become very anemic, a blood transfusion is given.

• Hair loss: The drugs that are commonly used to cure brain tumors through chemotherapy usually do not cause hair loss, but in some cases the patients might experience hair thinning. If the hair falls during the treatment, it usually grows back in about 3 to 6 months once chemotherapy treatment is complete.

• Bruises and bleeding: During chemotherapy patients bruise easily and also bleed heavily with even minor cuts because the platelets cells are damaged while the treatment is on. A doctor’s help is needed if there is unexplained bleeding or bruising.

• Feeling of being sick: Some chemotherapy drugs make the patient nauseated and also make them vomit. Doctors generally prescribe some drugs to avoid these feeling as they are very common among chemotherapy patients.

Most side effects during chemotherapy are unbearable but these effects disappear once the treatment is over.